Drum arrangement for a moisture extracting press



J. WILL-MES sept. 1o, 1963 DRUM ARRANGEMENT FOR A MOISTURE EXTRACTINGPRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 3l.' 1961 INVENTOR JOSEF WILLMES www)sept. 1o, 1963 J. wlLLMEs 3,103,164

DRUM ARRANGEMENT FOR A MOISTURE EXTRACTING PRESS Filed Jan. 31. 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 2 so sa 42 454 FIG.9 3&7, V4'

FlG./6 33 39 i INVENTOR JOSEF WILLMES YMM J- WILLMES Sept. 10, 1963 DRUMARRANGEMENT FOR A MOISTURE EXTRACTING PRESS ,3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan.3l, 1961 FIG. u A

33 FIG. IO

FIG. l2

' INVENTOR.

JOSEF wlLLMEs ide-ur United States Patent O 3,163,164 DRUM ARRANGEMENTFR A MUISTURE EXTRACTHNG )PRESS Josef Willmes, Nihelungenstr. 58,Bensheim an der Bergstrasse9 Germany Filed Jan. 31, 196i., Eier. No.86,185 Claims priority, applicatien Germany Feb. l2, 195@ 17 Claims.(Cl. 10d-167) The presen-t invention relates to presses for extractingmoisture from a moisture-containing material, and more particularly toan improved drum arrangement for such presses.

In a type of press with the improvement of which this invention is morespecifically concerned, a moisture-containing material is compressed ina drum consisting essentially of a tubular member of circular or angularcross section. A platen member is axially movable in the tubular memberand a second platen member may be either fixed or also axially movable.The drum cavity is thus radially contained in the ltubular member andaxially defined by the two platen members. At least a portion of thedrum Walls is perforated to permit liquid to escape when amoisture-containing material is compressed between the platens when theymove toward each other.

It is an important object of the invention to expedite the moistureremoval from a material being compressed between lthe platen members ofa press of the type described.

Another object is an improvement in the removal of the dry residueremaining in the drum after pressing.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of simply andautomatically established drainage channels in the cake of materialbeing compressed in the drum, the cake being divided by the channelsinto a plurality of layers which are serially arranged in the directionof applied pressure.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of simple andautomatically effective means for breaking the extracted cake into smallfragments prior to discharge from the press drum, or prior to asecondary pressing.

A further o-bject is the retention in the drum of the dry constituentsof the material being compressed and the prevention of the dryconstituents being a-dmixed with the extracted liquid.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following `de-` tailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which like referencenumerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof, andwherein:

FIG. l shows a cylindrical press drum equipped with a preferredembodiment of the invention in side elevational axial section;

FIG. 2 shows the idnum of FIG. 1 in front elevational radial section;

FIG. 3 illustrates la cylindrical -drum substantially similar to that ofFIG. 1, but provided with a modified ernbodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4- shows an additional modified embodiment of the invention in aview corresponding to that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational sectional View of a press drum of squarecross section provided with yet another modified embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the invention as applied to a drumof rectangular cross section fwhich is shown in side-elevational axialsection;

FIG. 7 illustrates a modification of the apparatus of FIG. 6;

ICC

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a detail of the devices of FIGS.1-3and 5-7 on a greatly enlarged scale;

FIG. 9 shows a modification of the det-ail of FIG. 8;

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary axially sectional view of a dmlm equipped withyet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the scale of the viewbeing substantially greater than that of FIGS. 1-7;

FIG. Il shows -the device of FIG l0 in plan View -in a radial plane,partly in section, the scale of FIG. 11 being somewhat smaller than thatof FIG. y1i);

FIG. 12 is `a somewhat diagrammatic radially sectional view of the drumof FIG. 10 on 1a reduced scale;

FIG. 13 illustrates a modification of a detail of the device of FIG. l()`in perspective view;

FIG. 14 is an elevational view of a locking element of the `device ofFIG. 13 in the open condition;

FIG. 15 shows the element of FIG. 14 in the closed condition; and

FIG. 16 illustrates ythe device of FIG. 1t), as modified by the detailof FIG. 13, the view corresponding to that of FIG. 10i.

Referring now to the drawing, and initially to FIG. l, there is seen thedrum of a press of the type disclosed in more `detail in the copendingapplication of Oskar Braun, Serial Number 7 68,986, file-d October 22,1958, now United States Patent No. 2,986,082. The press drum has a fixedplaten member or bottom 1 from `which staves 2 extend in an axialdirection. The staves are held together by steel hoops 3` which areaxially connected by reinforcing bars 4. The staves 2 jointly form atube, one axial end of which is closed by the fixed platen member 1. Theother axial end of the drum cavity is defined by a movable bottom orplaten member 5.

The free ends of the staves Z are connected by a spidershaped hub member6 which is freely rotatable on a bearing face 8 of an internallythreaded member 7. Rotation of the hub member 6` on the bearing face 3is facilitated by the inteiposition of a thrust ball bearing `9 whichabsorbs axial stresses. A threaded spindle 10 which engages tne internalthreads of the member 7 is ixedly fastened to the center of the platenmember 5.

The fixed platen member 1 is provided with a trunnion 11 which isjournaled in a bearing 12 which is an element of the press frame whichis not sho-wn in full since it is in itself not a necessary part of thisinvention. The internal-ly threaded member 7 is secured on the frameagainst rotation. When the spindle `I() rotates in the member 7, themovable platen member 5 moves axially toward or away from the xedbottoni 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1, Athe movable bottom 5 is in theterminal position of its movement outward 'of the drum cavity and awayfrom the fixed bottom I.

Wide ribbons Irl extend between the two platen members l and 5. Theirlength is approximately equal to the maximum spacing between the twoplaten members so that they are tensioned in the position of the movableplaten member illustrated in FIG. l. As better seen in the radiallysectional view of FIG. 2, the ribbons Awhen in the tensioned conditionextend mainly in .planes parallel to each other and to the axis of thedrum.

, It Iwill be understood that the walls of the drum are provided withrelatively small apertures to permit escape of liquid separated from thedry constituents of the material `being compressed between the platenmembers 1 and 5. In a drum the axial wail of which is composed ofstaves, these apertures are most conveniently provided by slightlyspacing the staves, from each other along the circumference of the drum.The apertures thus formed are too small to be visible on the scale ofFIGS. l and 2. The drum is equipped with a door 2 in its cylindricalwall for loading of material to be extracted, and for removal of dryresidue.

The ribbons -14 consist preferably of woven or braided fibrous materialIwhich is readily wetted by the liquid constituent of the material thatis to be extracted in the press. The libers of the ribbon materialsshould show capillary positive activity relative to the liquid to beextracted, thatV is, they should enhance the capillary iiow of theliquid along the fibers. In the .most common case of water or an aqueousliquid being separated from a dry residue, virtually all libers that canbe woven or combined into non-'woven materials, including naturaltextile materials such as cotton, wool, or hemp; synthetic organic berssuch as those of cellulose esters and ethers, polyamidesvinyl chlorideand vinylidene chloride polymers; and inorganic synthetic or naturalfibers such as those of glass or metals are suitable ribbon materials.

Additional ribbons 13, wider than the ribbons 14- `are placed along Itheinternal face of the cylindrical drum wall in such a manner that theyoverlap each other along axial lines. The ribbons 14 arranged in thecavity of the drum shown in FIGS. l and Z provide liow channels for theliquid constituent to be extracted and prevent escape of solid particlesfrom the drum. These channels extend axially of the drum from one bottomto the other. Additional passages are provided by the ribbons 13y alongthe radially defining cavity walls. rl`l1e ribbons 13 are preferablyarranged in such a manner that they make contact with the ribbons 1deither in the tensioned condition of the latter (not shown) or when themovable bottom 5 approaches the lixed bottom 1 whereby the tension in'the ribbons 14 is relaxed and they are deflected by the materialscompressed as will be presently discussed in more detail.

The apparatus described so far operates as follows:

With the drum in the position shown in FIG. 2 and the bottoms 1 and 5 asfar removed from each other as the length of the ribbons 14 permits, thedoor 2' of the drum is opened. The ribbons 1lidirectly underlying theldoor 2 are at first spread apart or pushed aside to facilitate loading.When the drum is partly filled with the material to be extracted, thetop ribbons may be relaxed to resume their normal axial position, andcharging'of the drum is completed. The door is then closed.

The closed drum is rot-ated and the movable bottom 5 is graduallyadvanced in a direction inward of the drum cavity. The ribbons 14 whichare embedded in the gradually thickening cake of extracted materialassume a meandering shape under the pressure exerted by the contractingcake which is no longer effectively counteracted by axial tension. Theloops or folds formed by the ribbons 14 spread transversely of the drumaxis as the platen member S advances. In an early phase of theextraction process the cake of material is axially subdivided into iiataxial portions by almost continuous radial sheets of ffibrous tissueconstituted by combined elements of the several ribbons.

The effective surface areas of the cake through which liquid may passoutward is thus not only determined by the perforate rigid walls of thedrum but also by the interface of the cake and the ribbons. The liquidcan travel in the fibrous capillary active ribbon material axially ofthe drum, but `also transversely of the drum axis. When the ymovableplaten member S has performed only a fraction of its stroke, the ribbons14 Imake Contact with Ithe ribbons 13 along the cylindrical drum walland establish a continuous system of channels lwhich discharges liquidthrough the apertures between the staves 2t. The ribbons 14 acceleratethe liquid discharge by substituting a flow path through the relativelypermeable ribbon material ltor a flow path through the extractedmaterial which becomes progressively less permeable as the cake iscompacted.

When the cake in the drum has been compressed to the desired extent, themovement of the spindle 1t? is reversed `and the movable bottom 5 ismade to travel outward of the drum cavity while rotation of the drumcontinues. The ribbons 1d are thereby straightened and release theportions of the cake which were held between their folds. The cakeportions drop to the bottom of the gradually enlarged drum cavity. Sincethe drum is simultaneously rotated, the cake portions are furthercomminuted by fthe resulting tumbling action.

The comminuted cake may then be compressed again to yield residuallyretained liquid. For re-pressing, the direction of rotation of thespindle 1@ is simply reversed. Although the drum is no longer full andthe ribbons 1d are not `as effectively embedded in the rnaterial to beextracted as was the case originally, continued rotation of the drumcauses the partly extracted material to be distributed between theribbons in such a manner that the capillary activity of the ribbonmaterial is used to advantage.

After the iinal pressing step, the door 2 is opened and thesubstantially dry and broken cake is discharged by merely rotating thedrum with the door removed or in the vopen position.

rlfhe other embodiments or the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 15operate in substantially the same man1 ner. They dilier from theapparatus of FIG. 1 in additional features or in modified :detailsintended to meet specic operating conditions.

. ln the apparatus seen in radial cross section in FIG. 3, a drum ofsubstantially the same type as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is equipped withribbons 15 arranged in radial planes offset by equal angles about theaxis of the drum. This arrangement is somewhat less convenient whenfilling the drum ywith a material of high viscosity but it providescapillary ow channels of minimum average length for the liquid to beextracted, and is thus preferred for materials high in liquid contentand therefore generally of relatively low `Viscosity.

The ribbons are replaced by a large number of closely spaced fibrousropes 16 in the apparatus of FIG. 3 which is preferred for handlingmaterials of high vis cosity forming strongly lcohering cakes. It isessential that the number of ropes be high enough that the ropes mayform a network substantially equal in capilla-ry capacity to the ribbons14 of FIGS. l, 2, or 3. The spacing of the ropes must be so close thatthe ropes should touch each other and the ribbons 13 provided `along thecylindrical wall of the drum cavity at an early stage of the pressingoperation. The ropes `are particularly effective in breaking up a strongcake. The large number of ropes again aids in subdividing the cake andthus lfacilitates its further comminution.

A preferred arrange-ment of ribbons 19 in a drum 17 of square orotherwise rectangular section is shown in FIG. 5 in a View takentransversely of the drum taxis. The four walls of the drum 117 are madeof perforated boards one of which is removable to provide access to thedrum cavity. To facilitate charging, the ribbons mainly extend in planesparallel to the drum axis and at right angles to the removable drumwall, thus giving convenient access to the compartments formed bet-Weenthe ribbons 19.

When the material in the drum 17 is axially cornpressed by an`arrangement corresponding to the bottoms 1 and S in FIG. l, the ribbons19 v.are deflected toward planes transverse of the drum axis, thussubdividing the char-ge in the drum not only in a direction transverseof the axis, as provided by the original compartments between theribbons 19, but also in the direction of the compressive stressesapplied. The ribbons extend over the 4full length of the drum, landIalso from wall to wall in a transverse direction. They thus provideflow paths for the liquid being extracted and accelerate its dischargethrough the perforations 18 in the walls of the drum 17. It will theappreciated that the drum 17 may be equipped with additional #layers ofiibrous material along the walls of the .drum in the manner representedby the ribbons 13 in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

FIG. 6 shows another drum arrangement of the invention in sideelevational axial section. The drum 17 itself is of square `crosssection as showngin FIG. 5. It is equipped with a tixed bottom 20 and amovable bottom 21 which may be moved toward and away from the ixedbottom in any desired manner, for example, by an arrangement Ianalogousto that of FIG. 1. Two'ribbons 22 extend axially between the two drumbottoms or platen lmembers 2li, 21 respectively adjacent two oppositeside walls -of the drum 17. A large number of axially spaced transverseribbons' 23 connects the axial ribbons 22. In the position illustrated,the weight of the transverse ribbons 23 slightly deflects the axialribbons 22 from a straight axial um which they would assume under thetension exerted by the platen members 20 and 21, but upon rotation ofthe drum 17 about its axis this deviation 'will disappear. For charging,the drum 17 of FIG. 6 is rotated through 90 yfrom the position seen A inFIG. 6 so that the several compartments formed between adjacent ones ofthe ribbons 23 present their open tops for lling.

When the platen Imember 21 is moved toward the fixed platen member 2G,the yaxial ribbons 22 are placed at least in part adjacent theperforations (not shown) in the walls of the ldrum 17 and act asmanifolds drawing liquid from the ribbons 23.

Charging and emptying of a press drum may be diicult in the presence ofthe pliable elongated ribbons or ropes ywith some materials, eitherbecause -of the viscosity of the starting material, or because oftackiness of the final cake which tends to yadhere to the iibroussurfaces. The embodiment ofthe invention shown :in FIG. 7 illustrates adevice for Aovercoming such difiiculties.

The drum 24 of FIG. 7 is seen in side elevational axial section. It isof square cross section and equipped with one removable side wall. 1t isequipped with a lixed bottom 25 and a movable lbottom 26. The bottomseach have two integral rails projecting toward the other bottom and4formed with opposite grooves 25', 26' longitudinally' extending in adirection away from the open side of the drum 24. Two carrier plates 27approximately coextensive with the bottoms 25, 26 are slidably insertedin the grooves 25', 26 and held in place by the removable side wall (notshown). A system of axial ribbons 23 and transverse ribbons 29substantially identical with the ribbon system of the embodiment shownin FiG. 6 is fastened to the two carrier plates 27 and thus removable bysliding the plates `out `of the -grooves 25', V26 during the chargingland/or during the emptying of 32 iixedly `fastened to the bottom 20 ofthedrum 17.

The arrangement illustrated in FIG. 8 permits removal of the ribbonsystem shown in FIG. 6 by separating the elements of only `fourhook-and-eye fasteners 31, 32, but it is also possible to release theribbon system from one fastener `only to `facilitate charging of thedrum.

It is evident that the fastener arrangement of FIG. 8 can readily beapplied to the ribbon arrangements of FIGS. l to 3 iand 5 to makeindividual ribbons readily removable, and that it can be modied toaccommodate the ropes of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 althoughdifferent iastenin g means for ropes are preferred and will presently bedescribed.

A modification of the hook-and-eye :arrangement of FIG. 8 is shown inFIG. 9. The hook 32 is replaced by a -threaded stud 34 lixedly fastenedto and axially projecting from a bottom of the drum (not shown). ltengages an eye 33 on the rod 30 the opening of which is only vslightlylarger lthan the diameter of the stud 34. A wing nut 35 on the stud 34secures the end of the ribbon 22 to the drum somewhat more securely thanthe open hook-and-eye arrangement yof FIG. 8 at some slight sacriiice inthe ease of engagement and disengagement of the ribbons. t

FlG. l() shows a modified arrangement for securing Irope -type pli-able`members to the bottom 36 of ia drum. The axially sectional view of FIG.l() is supplemented by a plan view of a portion of the bottom in FIG.11, `and by a somewhat diagrammatic radially sectional view of the drumof FIG. 10 on a reduced scale.

The xed bottom 36 of the drum of which only a portion of a perforatedside Wall 38 is otherwise shown has a carrier plate fastened thereto bycountersunk bolts 37'. The carrier plate consists of four identical andinterchangeable segments 37 each of which is spaced from the bottom 36by a plurality of integral axial projections 39 soas to provide a hollowdrainage space 44B between the segments 37 and the fixed bottom 36. Thisdrainage -space is axially :aligned with a circumferential row ofrelatively -large perforations in the side wall 38.

Openings `41 in the segments 37 provide passages between the -main drumcavity and the drainage space 4G. A rope 42 passes through each opening41. The ropes rare each composed of several strands of a continuouslength of a string, narrow ribbon or the like whichk is slteined to formseveral flatten-ed loops. The bight portions 43 of the loops passthrough the openings `41 and are prevented from slipping tout of thespace 40 by a locking rod 44 which extends transversely of the ropeaxis.

The straight rods 44 may be replaced to advantage by elongated openrings 45 of the type shown' in perspective view in FIG. 13. The ring hasan openslot 46 wide enough to permit passage of an individual strand ofstring or ribbon which composes the rope 42, but too narrow to permitthe simultaneous passage of more than one strand. Alternatively, theremay be employed a ring 47 of the type shown in FIGS. 14 Iand 15 whichoriginally has two free ends 47 which extend in spaced parallel planesand thus provide a wide slot for engaging lthe bight `portions 43 of arope 42. When the rope is in place, the

rfre'e ends 47 are bent from the position seen in FlG. 14 and in brokenlines in FlG. l5 into a common plane as indicated in fully :dnawn linesin FIG. l5, thus substantially closing the gap. The use of the rings 45in the drum of FIG. 10` is illustrated in FIG. 16.

rlhe :dimensions of the rings 45 or 47 `are selected in such a mannerthat the rings with `a rope 42 thereon may be passed through an opening41 in the longitudinal direction, but cannot pass through the openingwhen transversely aligned. Such ian arrangement makes insertion ofindividual ropes 42 into the segments 37 very easy.

Itis preferred to combine several ropes 42 into a bundle by rings 49arranged at least at two longitudinally spaced points of the bundle. Themembers of the bundle occupy minimum space and offer minimuminterference to loading or unloading of the drum when the ropes 42 aretensioned. Yet, they spread and their 4individual members assumeindependent meandering shapes substantially without hindrance by therings 49 to provide a network of drainage channels in the cake. Apreferred pattern of `bundles is diagrrammatically indicated in FlG. 12in ywhich each circle indicates an opening 41 and a rope 42 passingthrough the opening, and the lines connecting adjacent circles `areindicative -of the connection of the corresponding ropes 42 by a ring 49to form a bundle.

FIG. 112 also shows a peripheral row of individual ropes 42 which extendalong the cylindrical side wall 3S anuales to perform the functions ofthe ribbons 13 in the embodiment of FG. 13.

When the drum of FIGS. l0 to l2 is to be loaded, the movable bottomwhich will be understood to be simil-arly provided with segments 37 as`the fixed bottom 36, is positioned away from the fixed bottom 36 totension the bundles of ropes 42. The :door (not shown) in the side wall3S is opened and the ropes 42 adjacent the door opening are pushedlaside to facilitate entry of the material to be extracted. lf thenature of the material so requires, the ropes 42 'adjacent the dooropening may yalso be equipped with hook-and-eye type fasteners as shownin FIGS. 8 and 9 so that they may be temporarily removed randreinstalled when loading is completed.

'lt may also be rconvenient to remove lan entire segment 37 from eachIdrum bottom by releasing the respective screws 37 together with theropes 42 which extend between the segments, and to reinstall thesegments when the drum Vis at least partly loaded. The division of thecarrier plate into Ifour `segments as show-n in FIG. 12 is not critical,and the plate may be -divided -in :any other manner as specificoperating conditions may warrant. lt is preferred though that individualsegments be identical to make them interchangeable, or that at least amajority of the segments be interchangeable. If an imperforate door isemployed, the peripheral row of ropes 42 may be interrupted in the areaadjacent the door since it would not serve its principal purpose offacilitating radial discharge of liquid, and the omission of ropesadjacent the door opening will -facilitate loading.

When the drum is filled and the movable bottom moves i toward the fixedbottom, or when two movable bottoms provided move toward each other, theaxial shortening of the cake of material in the drum causes the ropes toassume individual meandering shapes in which the ropes intersect andform a system of communicating channels for the iiow of the liquid beingextracted, while simultaneously subdividing the cake into axiallydivided sections substantially in the same manner as the ribbons 14 ofthe press sho-wn in FIG. 1. The relatively hard individual strands ofthe ropes maintain continuous flow channels for the liquid which lead toand terminate in the drainage space 46v so that a major portion of the`liquid extracted leaves the drum through the large perforations oftheside wall 38.

When pressing is completed, the bottoms of the drum j are moved Iawaylfrom each other and the straightening ropes 42 break the cake formedinto smaller particles in the manner described above in more detail.

The drum arrangements illustrated and described may be modified in manyWays as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 'If so desired,the bottoms may be perforated in the same manner as shown for the sidewalls in FIGS. and 10. `In that event, ribbons 13 or ropes correspondingto the peripheral row of ropes in FIG. 12 are preferably arranged alongthe bottom faces aswell.

=lt will usually be most convenient to 4arrange the pliable fibrousmembers, such as the ribbons and ropes illustrated in such a manner thatIthey will extend between the bottoms along straight lines paralleltothe drum axis when in tension. Other arrangements however may bechosen without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.When two segments 37 on one drum bottom are interchanged without Iacorresponding change on lthe other drum bottom, the ropes 42 shown inFIG. l() will still extend along straight lines between the two drumbottoms, but the lines will no longer be parallel. Such a configurationof the ropes may be found convenient when charging relatively viscousmaterial to the drum Where temporary removal of ropes or groups of ropesis not desirable. The modified configuration of the ropes near the dooropening may provide easier access to the drum cavity at some'sacrice inchannelling efliciency during pressing.

The carrier plates may be provided with additional openings for passageof liquid therethrough, or some of the passages 41 seen in FIG. 10 maynot be used for holding ropes 42 so as to provide free communicationbetween an area of the drum cavity adjacent Athe carrier vplate and thedrainage space 4t). A similar purpose may be served by covering the drumbottoms with aco-arse screen in a manner well known in itself to providea relatively wide open channel from the face of the bottom toward theperforations in the side wall.

While a specific type of press and its operation have been described, itwill be appreciated that the invention is not limited to any specificpress. It is equally applicable to vertically or horizontally operatingpresses, and the manner in which the platen members are moved toward andaway from each other has no bearing on the operation of the invention.It is also not limited -to the continuously rotating drum described forthe purpose of the disclosure. Loading and unloading of the drum may beachieved otherwise than by gravity, and the opening or openings foradmitting the material to be extracted,

and for separately withdrawing the solid and liquid con` stituents ofthe material may be disposed at will.

These and other modifications are fully contemplated and may obviouslybe resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appendedclaims, as only preferred embodiments of the invention have beendisclosed.

What -l claim is:

1. In a press .drumv arrangement, in combination, a tubular memberhaving an axis and radially defining a cavity about said axis; twoplaten members in said tubular member, said platen members transverselyextending of said axis and axially defining said cavity, at least one ofsaid members being formed with apertures therethrough communicating withsaid cavity, and one of said platen members being axially movable towardand away rom the other platen member between two terminal positions; anda plurality of pliable elongated flat ribbons of fibrous capillaryactive material each having two end portions respectively secured tosaid platen members said material being permeable to liquid and saidpliable fiat ribbons extending between said platen members alongsubstantially straight lines when said one platen member is in one ofsaid terminal positions thereof away from the other platen member.

2. `In an arrangement as set forth in claim l, said tubular member andsaid platen members constituting the wall of said cavity, at least aportion of said wall being covered with a layer of yfibrous capillarymaterial permeable to liquid, said layer being in contact with at leastincluding a plurality of partly overlapping ribbon shaped elements.

5. `In an arrangement as set forth in claim 1, said ribbons definingrespective axially extending parallel planes when said one pla-tenmember is in said one terminal position thereof.

6. In an arrangement as set forth in claim 1, said ribbons definingrespective axially and radially extending planes converging toward saidaxis when said one platen member is in said one terminal positionthereof. v

7. In an arrangement as set forth in claim 1, a plurality of elongatedfoldable members each having two ends secured to respective ones of saidribbons and extending between said ends transversely of said axis. Y

8. In an arrangement as set forth in claim l, said tubular member beingof rectangular cross section so as to define four walls of said cavity,two of said pliable'ribbons extending along t-wo of said walls, oppositeeach other, the remainder of said ribbons extending between said tworibbons in a direction substantially parallel to the other two walls ofsaid cavity 'when said one platen member is in said one terminalposition thereof.

9. In a press drum arrangement, :in combination, a tubular member havingan axis `and radially defining a `cavity about said axis: two platenmembers in said Vtubular member, said platen members transverselyextending of Said axis and axially defining said cavity, at least one ofsaid members being formed with apertures therethrough communicating withsaid cavity, land one of said platen members being axially movabletoward and away from the other platen member between two terminalpositions; a fastening member releasably secured to one of said platenmembers; [and a plurality of pliable elongated members of fibrouscapillary active material each having two end portions respectivelysecured to said fastening member and to the other one of said platenmembers, said material being permeable to liquid, and said pliablemembers extending between said platen members along substantiallystraight lines when said one platen member is in one of said terminalpositions thereof away from the other platen member.

10. In a press drum arrangement, in combination, a tubular member havingan axis and radially defining a cavity about said axis; two platenmembers in said tubular member, said platen members transverselyextending of said axis and axially defining said cavity, at least one ofsaid members being formed with apertures therethrough communicating withsaid cavity, and one of said platen members being axially movable towardand away from the other platen member between two terminal positions; `aplurality of pliable elongated members of fibrous capillary activematerial each having two end portions respectively secured to saidplaten members, said material being permeable to liquid and said pliablemembers extending between said platen members along substantiallystraight lines when said `one platen member is in one of said terminalpositions thereof away from the other platen member; and a plurality ofhook-and-eye -fastening means, each of said yfastening means having tworeleasably engageable elements, one of said elements being mounted onone of said end portions of a pliable member, and the other elementbeing mounted on One of said platen members and engageable with said oneelement for securing said end portion to said platen member.

l1. 'In a press drum arrangement, in combination, a tubular memberhaving an axis land radially defining a cavity about said axis; twoplaten members in said tubular member, said platen members transverselyextending of said axis and axially defining said cavity, at least one ofsaid members being formed with apentures therethrough communicating withsaid cavity, and one of said platen members being axially movable towardand away from the other platen member between two terminal positions; aplurality of pliable elongated ropes of fibrous capillary activematerial each having two end portions respectively secured to saidplaten members, said material being permeable to said liquid and saidropes extending between said platen members along substantially straightlines when said one platen member is in one of said terminal positionsthereof away from the other platen member; and means for securing aplurality of longitudinally spaced portions of one of said ropes tocorresponding portions of another rope, whereby said ropes are combinedinto a bundle.

12. In a press drum arrangement, in combination, a tubular member havingan axis and radially defining a cavity about said axis; two platenmembers in said tubular member, said platen members transverselyextending of said axis and axially defining said cavity, at least one ofsaid members being formed with apertures therethrough communicating withsaid cavity, and one of said platen members being axially movable towardand away from the other platen member between two terminal positions; aplurality of pliable elongated ropes of fibrous capillary activematerial each having two end portions respectively secured to saidplaten members, said material being permeable to said liquid and saidropes extending between said platen members along substantially straightlines when said one platen member is in one of said terminal positionsthereof away from the other platen member; at least one of said ropescontaining a continuous length of materialfolded to form a plurality ofparallel strands, two of said strands being joined by an integral bightportion.

13. IIn an arrangement as set forth in claim 12, a fastening member onone of said platen members, said fastening member being formed with anopening, said bight portion passing through said opening and forming aloop adjacent said fastening member, and a locking member passingthrough said loop and abutting against said fastening member when saidstrands -are longitudinally tensioned.

14. iIn a press drum arrangement, in combination, a tubtular memberhaving an axis and radially defining a cavity about said axis; twoplaten members in said tubular member, said platen members transverselyextending of said axis and axially defining said cavity, at least one ofsaid members being formed with apertures` therethrough communicatingwith said cavity, and one of said platen members being axially movabletoward and away from the other platen member between two terminalpositions; a plurality of pliable elongated members of ibrous capillaryactive material each having two end portions respectively secured tosaid platen members, said material being permeable to liquid and saidpliable members extending between said platen members alongsubstantially straight lines `when said one platen member is in one ofsaid terminal positions thereof away from the other platen member; aplurality of fastening plates releasably mounted on a face of one ofsaid platen members in said cavity, said fastening plates jointly beingsubstantially coextensive with said face; and fastening means on saidplates for securing said pliable members to said plates.

y15. In au arrangement as set forth in claim 14, said fastening platesbeing of substantially identical shape.

16. `In an arrangement as set forth in claim 14, at least one of saidfastening plates being formed with perforations and having a pluralityof axial projections abutting against the corresponding platen member,whereby a hollow space is formed between said fastening plate and saidplaten member, said perforations communicating with said cavity and saidhollow space.

17. In an arrangement as set forth in claim 14, said fastening meansincluding a plurality of fastening members arranged in ra peripheral rowabout said axis adjacent said tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS826,603 Peter July 24, 1906 942,301 Wiselogel Dec. 7, 1909 2,845,857Robertson etal Aug. 5, 1958 2,986,082 Braun May 30, 19611 FOREIGNPATENTS 481,248 Italy May 26, 1953 490,151 IItaly Feb. `6, 1954 548,102France Oct. 11, 1922 1,082,792 France Jan. 3, 1955 OTHER REFERENCESWillmes: German application 1,080,857, Apr. 28, 1960, KL 58b 10.

1. IN A PRESS DRUM ARRANGEMENT, IN COMBINATION, A TUBULAR MEMBER HAVINGAN AXIS AND RADIALLY DEFINING A CAVITY ABOUT SAID AXIS; TWO PLATENMEMBERS IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID PLATEN MEMBERS TRANSVERSELYEXTENDING OF SAID AXIS AND AXIALLY DEFINING SAID CAVITY, AT LEAST ONE OFSAID MEMBERS BEING FORMED WITH APERTURES THERETHROUGH COMMUNICATING WITHSAID CAVITY, AND ONE OF SAID PLATEN MEMBERS BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE TOWARDAND AWAY FROM THE OTHER PLATEN MEMBER BETWEEN TWO TERMINAL POSITIONS;AND A PLURALITY OF PLIABLE ELONGATED FLAT RIBBONS OF FIBROUS CAPILLARYACTIVE MATERIAL EACH HAVING TWO END